Lt. Gov. Duffy won't seek second term: "I made my decision"

Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy announced last night that he won't seek a second term with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying the decision was personal not political.

Duffy has long been believed to not be interested in a second term, and it was apparent in recent months that he wouldn't be on the ticket with Cuomo in November. Last fall, he admitted that he briefly applied for a lucrative job to head the Rochester Business Alliance.

Duffy was perhaps the most popular upstate Democrat when Cuomo tapped him as his running mate in 2010. Duffy resigned as mayor after they were easily elected, and he's traveled the state to boost Cuomo's initiatives.

But the constant travel wore on Duffy, 59, and he's struggled with back problems.

Duffy told the paper that he declined options to cut back on travel and did not think it appropriate to stay on but in a lesser capacity.

The travel schedule also meant "being away from my family and my home several days a week (and that) is something I am choosing not to do for another four years," Duffy said, reached at John F. Kennedy International Airport before boarding a flight back to Rochester.

Duffy said he's not clashing with Cuomo, as has been the case with previous governors and their lieutenant governors.

"No one makes decisions for me. I make my own decisions," Duffy said. "And I'm very clear about having a chance to talk about that. It's very positive. There's no controversy, no issues, no negativity at all."

The position at the Rochester Business Alliance is expected to be open again at year's end because the current president, Sandy Parker, agreed to temporarily stay in the job -- which has fueled speculation that the position will be Duffy's landing spot come Jan. 1.

Cuomo will need to tap a new running mate before the party's convention. The names being rumored include Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, former Rep. Kathy Hochul and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney, a Republican.